Tsuruga Festival in Fukui

I would like to inform Tsuruga Festival.


Tsuruga Festival introduce autumn in Fukui.
This festival is pulling Dashi in dynamic. Dashi is festival car.
Dashi display shows at Warring States period.
This festival is done at same period to Kehi shrine festival.


6 Dashis and 4000 people are attending.
Popular song dancing at evening, and Carnival Parade are interesting.


Usually Tsuruga people is few, but many people are gathering at this festival.

Main festival is 2nd day, and 3rd day.
Many shops are setting at Arcade.

Jinkosay festival has many Mikoshis.

2014 Schedule
Day Time Contents　 Place　
９/２(Tues)
13:00～21:00 　Festival Plaza 　 Aioi Street
13:00～21:00 　Festival Plaza Shingaku town 1 chome

15:30～21:00 　Pre Festival Shingaku town 1 and 2 chome
９/３(Wed)
8:00～16:00 　Mikoshi parade　 All area
9:00～14:30 　Gohoren 　 All area
15:00～21:00 　Carnival Parade Shingaku & Aioi Street
13:00～20:00 　Event Parade Shingaku town 2 chome Street
９/４(Thurs)
9:30～16:00 　Dashi Parade 　 All area
12:45～13:20 　Tsuruga Fire truck Kehi Shrine
16:00～21:00 　Festival Plaza　 Aioi Street
17:00～21:00 　Festival Plaza Shingaku town 1 chome
19:00～21:00 　Popular song dancing Honmachi 1/2 chime
９/７(Sun)
12:00～17:30 　Festival Plaza　 Station street

Tsuruga has Kanagasaki Castle, Red brick house, Kehi beach and other historical spots.

Please enjoy Tsuruga Festival.

That's it.

Nagoya Noritake-Garden Dinosaur Event

Noritake-Garden Dinosaur Event
I would like to inform Nagoya Noritake-Garden Event : Dinosaurs are coming.


From Nagoya station, I ride subway to Kamejima station.
Then go to East, I find Noritake Garden.
I enter this garden from East gate.

Noritake Garden is a park, which was established by the ruins of Noritake factory at 2001.

First visit is Noritake Gallery.
This gallery shows potteries.

Go forwards, Morimura and Okura Museum is seen.
You can see how to produce potteries.
Morimura groupe has many companies that are Nihon Tokushu Togyo, Nihon Gaishi, TOTO, INAX(current is Tostem).


Next is Fountain Square.

There are beer shop, Refreshments shops.


In this square, Dinosaur buss are seen.
Spinosaurus buss is a bicycle buss.
It's a funny buss.
Tyrannosaurus hauls buss.



End of Square, there are Craft Centre, and Noritake museum.
Entrance charege is 500yen.
East of this museum, Pottery shops and Restaurants are existing.



Go West, then yon arrive at Chimney Square.

This square holds Dinosaurs are coming to Noritake Garden.
This event continues till September 7th.

Dinosaurs are Tyrannosaurus, Spinosaurus, Stegosaurus.
They are replicated to full scale, and moving to more sophisticated motion of Disneyland.


Dinosaurs move head, open their mouse, move eyes, and move hands and grow.
Their motions are Realistic.
Especially Tyrannosaurus motion is impressive.




This garden is near Nagoya station, and no entrance charge, and not crowded.

Please visit Noritake Garden.

That's it.

Lord Ukon-Takayama spread Christianity to Takatsuki City

I would like to inform Takatsuki city trip.
Ukon-Takayama, lord of a Takatsuki castle at Sengoku period, spread Christianity to Takatsuki city people.

Takatsuki Castle is historical castle in Settsu country.

Settsu country was from Kobe city, Osaka city, Takatsuki city.

Takatsuki castle established by Kondo clan at 990.
Lord of the castle changed, Irie clan, Akutagawa clan.
At 1576, lord of a castle is changed to Ukon-Takayama.
Ukon spread Christianity to Takatsuki people.
60% of the people become a Christianity, current shrines & temples are few in Takatsuki.
From Edo period, Nagai clan become a lord of the castle, to Meiji period.

I go to Takatsuki city by Hankyu railway, I get off at Takatsuki city station.
Go to South by walk to Kita-Ote intersection.

Soon Shiro-Ato park is seen.
I arrive at Shiroato historical museum.

This museum is free, and shows Takatsuki Castle history, castle stone wall, Takatsuki people life at Edo period.



Especially how to make stone wall is explained in detail.

People's life is seen in movie.
Sanjyu-Koku ships are connecting Osaka and Kyoto.
The ship go to Takatsuki, and change goods, so Takatsuki city is prosperous at Edo period.

Current Ruins of a castle has ShiroAto museum, ShiroAto park, Junior high school, and high school.
Statue of Honmaru is set at high school.


Next is ShiroAto park.
There are Statue of Ukon-Takayama, and Stone wall of Tenshukaku.


Statue of Ukon wear mantle, has sword with cross of Christ.
Moat is around stone wall, Tenshukaku is not existing, but you can image Takatsuki Castle.

I woul like to explaine Ukon-Takayama.
Ukon was born at Nose town in north of Osaka.
He become a Christian at 12years old.
He become a lord of Takatsuki castle at 27years old, spread Christianity to Takatsuki people.
After Yamazaki war, he become Akashi Funagami castle lord.
After Deportation of Christian by Ieyasu Tokugawa, he has to go to Manila of Philippines.
He died at Manila at 64years old.

ShiroAto park also has History Museum of Ethnography.
This museum shows people's house and life goods.



Retuning to Takatsuki station, please visit Takatsuki Catholic Church.

Gate of this church has a statue of young Ukon, he kneels to beg the teachings of Christianity.
This statue shows his dedication to Christianity.

At Sunday, you can enter this church.

This church is built same as Catholic Church of Manila.
Because Ukon's Funeral was held in Catholic Church of Manila.

'Takatsuki Castle cake' is famous in Takatsuki.
It is 480 yen, expensively, but big and good taste.

I buy malon taste cake.
7 circles is shows Takayama clan's Family emblem.


When you are fan of Ukon-Takayama, please visit Takatsuki Castle.
This castle is convenient by train, and cars.

That's it.

Nara Jikoin, Koizumi castle, Ibaraki castle Trip

Nara Jikoin, Koizumi castle, Ibaraki castle Trip
I would like to inform Nara Koizumi area and Osaka Ibaraki Castle trip.

I go to Yamato-koizumi by JR train.
Walk to Northeast 15 minutes, I arrive at Jikouin temple.

Koizumi shrine is A point in the map.

Jikoin temple is established by Sadamasa Katagiri at 1663.
I enter this temple from the signboard of Jikoin.

Climbing slope, Ichinomon is seems.

Next is Ibaraki Castle gate.
This gate has roof of thatched.

This gate is brought from Ibaraki castle.

I would like to explain Ibaraki Castle.
This castle was existing at Osaka Ibaraki city.

　 Ibaraki castle was built by Masashige Kusunoki at 1334.
Lord of the castle is Ibaraki clan, Nakagawa clan, Katagiri clan.
By Ikkoku-Ichijyou law, this castle was broken at 1615.
So, Sadamasa Katagiri bring Ibaraki castle gate to Jikoin temple.


I enter Ibaraki shrine from Toriigata.
　　
I turn right at gate.
Main shrine is seen, it is big and roof is yellow-green.

At Chozuya, dragon pouring water.

I worship this shrine.

Ruins of the Castle is Ibaraki elementary school.
I go to this school.

Stone statue for Ruins of Honmaru is in this school.

It is 2m height.
This school gate is restored Ibaraki castle gate.


I return this story to Jikoin.
So, Ibaraki castle gate is existing at Jikoin temple and Ibaraki elementary school.

I arrive at main temple.
Entrance fee is 1000yen.
This fee include a green tea set.

Sadamasa Katagiri is called Sesshu, he establish Sesshu ryu that is a tea selemony (Cha-No-Yu) style.

I go to Shoin room.

Shoin room is important cultural properties.

I drink green tea at Shoin room.
From this room beautiful garden is seen.

Sekitei garden has pine tree, and Mt.Wakakusa.

Daimonji -Yaki is done at Nara at August 15.
From this Shoin room Daimonji-Yaki is available to see.
Next room is Tea room,Takabayashi room.

North side has another tea room Hei room.

Both tea room are important cultural properties.

Walk the garden is available.
I walk around Azalea trees and Pine trees.

I return to main temple, go to main hall.
There are Shaka Nyorai, KaizanTamahuneOsho, Sesshu statuesque.


I go to Koizumi shrine, where is ruined of Koizumi Castle.
Walking 10 minutes, I arrive at Koizumi shrine.

Koizumi castle was established by Koizumi clan.
Lord of the castle is changed to Hata clan, Katagiri clan.
Enter Torii, climb stone steps, shrine gate is seen.

Over there Main shrine is seen.

I worship this shrine.

Next is Ro of Koizumi Castle.
Walking 5 minutes, I arrive at pond.
From pond Ro is seen.

This Ro is Koizumi clan's Bushi house.
Current KorinAn temple people are living in this Ro.
KorinAnn temple is Katagiri clan's temple.

Unfortunately KorinAn temple is closed.
I return to YamatoKoizumi station.

This time, I go to Jikoin temple, and its strong connection spot Ibaraki castle.
I recommend to travel one spot, and also go to reference spot is best trip for understanding the history.

That's it.

Kyoto Gozan-Okuribi Daimonjiyaki Trip

Kyoto Gozan-Okuribi Trip

I would like to inform Kyoto Gozan-Okuribi trip on Aug.16.

Gozan-Okuribi is famous same as Gion Festival in summer.

Okuribi has 6 fires.
Most famous is Daimonji at Higashiyama Nyoigadake, 2nd is Left Daimonji at Kinkakuji Okitayama, 3rd is Myou at Matsugasaki Nishiyama, 4th is Hou at Matsugasaki Higashiyama, 5th is Hunagata at Nishigamo Funayama, 6th is Toriigata at Saga Manjarayama.

Okuribi is a Bon event in summer.
It is a Buddhism event, that is sending the Spirits of the dead to heaven, starts from Muromachi period.

Gozan-Okuribi is also called Daimonnji-Yaki.
Daimonji-Yaki is done at many other areas as folllows,
Nara-City, Hakone-Town, Mishima-City in Shizuoka, Fuehuki-City in Yamanashi, Odate-City in Akita, Shimanto-City in Kochi, Fukuchiyama-City in Kyoto, Ikeda-City in Osaka, Sano-City in Tochigi.

Fire Seeing position and Ignition time
Daimonji : Kamogawa river : 20:00
Myo : Kitayama Street : 20:05
Hou : Takanogawa river : 20:05
Funagata : Kitayama Street : 20:10
Left Daimonji : Nishioji Street: 20:15
Torii : Matsuo bridge, Hirosawa pond : 20:20

Fire ignition starts from 20:00.
See all fires is difficult.
I recommend to see 3 or 4 fires.

I show you Proposal schedule

Start from Kyoto stations, ride subway to Imadegawa station.
Get off this station, walk east to Demachiyanagi before 20:00, and see Daimonji fire.
See Daimonji from long distance.

Please return to Imadegawa subway station, go to Matsugasaki station.
Walk Kitayama street to west, see Hou and Myo fires.


Walk to Kamogawa river, see Funagata fire.

You have to arrive at Kamogawa river before 20:40, because firing period is only 30 minutes.

When you would like to see all fires, please try below plan.
Start from Demachiyanagi station of Keihan train,
first to see Daimonji fire, walk along Kamogawa river to north, then you can see Myo and Hou, Funagata fires.
Walk Kamogawa river to Horikawa street, turn left to south at Horikawa street, till Kitayama section, you can see Left Daimonji fire.
Walk Horikawa street to Marutamachi section, you can see Torii fire.

Nowadays, police officers control traffic, mso any sections are controlled.
It will be difficult to see all fires.

Please see 3 or 4 fires steadily, you can feel tasteful.

When you don't have a time to see fires,
please get off at JR Kyoto staion.
From observatory of Station building, you can see some fires.
And Station building display lights of Okuribi to steps.


Please see Kyoto Gozan-Okuribi.

That's it.